Several social media posts reported heavy police activity near the Cinemark Theater in Allen, Texas, on Monday, sparking fears of a possible mass shooting.
One scanner post claimed, "Mass shooting with multiple victims at Allen theater. As discussed during the dispatch call, emergency crews responded to reports of a possible mass shooting at a theater near State Highway 121 in Allen. Multiple patients were mentioned over the radio, and police, fire, and EMS units were dispatched and on scene."
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Fire department issues update
However, authorities later clarified that there was no shooting.
The Allen Fire Department said the activity was part of planned training exercises being conducted alongside the Allen Police Department. The exercises are scheduled to continue through Wednesday.
In a Facebook post, the department stated, “Allen Fire Department and Allen Police Department will be conducting joint training exercises each morning at Allen Cinemark today through Wednesday. You may notice emergency vehicles and personnel in the area, but there is no cause for alarm. This is only training as we continue working together to keep our community safe.”
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2023 Allen mass shooting
{{/usCountry}}Also Read: How Iran shot down the US F-15 fighter jet. New report details Third Khordad operation
2023 Allen mass shooting
{{/usCountry}}On May 6, 2023, 33-year-old Mauricio Garcia opened fire with an AR-15-style rifle at Allen Premium Outlets mall in Allen, Texas. He killed eight people, including a 3-year-old boy, two young sisters, and others, and wounded seven more in a brief rampage. Garcia was fatally shot by an off-duty Allen police officer responding quickly at the scene. A permanent memorial was later installed, and lawsuits against the mall owner for security failures continue. As of March 2026, the Texas Supreme Court was set to hear arguments on whether to remove the mall owner from the lawsuit filed by the victims.